Bertlesmann Grabs Smashing Ideas

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Seattle-based digital media and marketing company Smashing Ideas has been acquired by Bertlesmann AG, which is pairing the 15-year-old company with its Random House book publishing unit. Terms were not disclosed. The companies said in a release that Smashing Ideas would keep its Seattle headquarters, along with a branch in the United Kingdom, working with current clients and continuing to recruit new ones. The Seattle Times’ Brier Dudley says that means Smashing Ideas’ 70 Seattle-area employees will stay on board. Smashing Ideas has been working with Random House since last fall to develop mobile apps for books, starting with two children’s titles. Paid Content’s David Kaplan notes that Smashing Ideas’ e-publishing unit “is headed by the co-creator and developer of the Alice for the iPad,” an interactive retelling of Alice in Wonderland. Xconomy’s Wade Roush reviewed that title and some other attempts at “superbooks” earlier this year.